Apr 3, 2013, 11:44 am
Last edit by: markr33
Read the wiki before posting a question.
Check your BB load limits BEFORE asking in this thread about "tender not allowed" or any other errors.
Bluebird website. There's no need to buy a Bluebird kit in-store; sign-up free on the website.
The original FlyerTalk discussion thread is here: Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Bluebird Load Limits:
*For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt. If blocked, call Account Protection Services at 1-800-660-2454 to clear it (9am-8pm EST, Mon-Fri).
The day currently resets around midnight Eastern/11pm Central/10pm Mountain/9pm Pacific.
For online bill pay
Loading with debit card at Walmart
Self checkout does not work for loading.
Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of gift cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC again to load with gift cards.
Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html for additional information on using prepaid debit cards.
Training a WM cashier:
Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered .
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.
UPdate Notice on Sept 15, 2014.
Some minor changes on the ATM limits and fees:
• Out-of-Network ATM Fees:
Beginning October 30, 2014, the fee for withdrawing funds using out-of-network ATMs will increase from $2.00 to $2.50. ATM operator fees may also apply.
• Free In-Network MoneyPass® ATMs:
Effective immediately, all Bluebird Customers can withdraw funds for free when using in-network MoneyPass ATMs. You can find one of the more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs below.
• ATM Withdrawal Limits Increase:
We have increased your daily ATM limit, so you can withdraw up to $750 per day. Your monthly ATM withdrawal limit will remain at $2,000.
-----
•If you use Wal-Mart Savings Catcher, you can earn double rewards by redeeming to your BlueBird account <== Doubling of savings catcher amounts ended sometime in the summer of 2015.
Check your BB load limits BEFORE asking in this thread about "tender not allowed" or any other errors.
Bluebird website. There's no need to buy a Bluebird kit in-store; sign-up free on the website.
The original FlyerTalk discussion thread is here: Wal-Mart, Amex take on banks with Bluebird debit card
Bluebird Load Limits:
- BB loading via VR or WM load: $2,500/day and $5,000 total per calendar month
- Online Debit Card Load* - $200/day and $1,000/month
- Checking/Savings Account - $2,000/month
- Checks - $2,000/day and $10,000/month
- ATM Withdrawals - $750/day and $2,000/month
*For online debit load, only use of bank-issued cards is allowed. The use of pre-paid debit cards (Netspend, Paypower, Univision, Paypal, etc.) and VGC/MGC/AGCs is not allowed. Your account will be flagged upon first/second attempt. If blocked, call Account Protection Services at 1-800-660-2454 to clear it (9am-8pm EST, Mon-Fri).
The day currently resets around midnight Eastern/11pm Central/10pm Mountain/9pm Pacific.
For online bill pay
- You can pay the credit card that you used to buy reloads
- Error 1302 means that you have 1 pending payment the same amount as the one you just submitted. For example, 1000 bill pay to sapphire preferred from Friday and then on Saturday you submit another bill pay for 1000 to sapphire preferred, you will get this error.
- Tip: if using online bill pay to the same place multiple times, vary your amounts by $0.01 to make it easier to track since your confirmation number does not match the tracking number on your credit card statement
Loading with debit card at Walmart
Self checkout does not work for loading.
Many Walmart stores are enforcing a rule against the use of gift cards when loading, even though the register and the MCE do not enforce. Do not make your prepaid debit cards visible. Show them a bank debit card if asked. Otherwise, you may be asked by management to never visit the MC again to load with gift cards.
Loads at register over $500 will sometimes trigger ID requirement. There is a limit of four swipes per transaction; this means your card plus three payments.
If your card doesn't say "debit" on the front, it isn't a debit card.
Please see http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/manuf...bit-cards.html for additional information on using prepaid debit cards.
Training a WM cashier:
- If the WM cashier doesn't know how to load the card, advise them to enter "70" then press "action code".
- If you are using a temp card that doesn't have your name on it, you can swipe the card from your side of the terminal. The WM rep never has to touch any of your cards. The screen will say "enter account." That is your prompt to slide the card.
- The terminal will ask the WM employee if you are loading in multiples of $2000. Advise them to enter "no."
- Avoid saying gift card. Always refer to your card as a debit card.
Error Messages:
DEBIT NOT AVAILABLE
Received when I used a card I thought I had activated but hadn't.
DEBIT NOT APPROVED
Received when the card's monthly load limit had been reached.
TENDER NOT ALLOWED
Card was incorrectly read, or wrong PIN entered .
HOST TIMEOUT
Connection problems. The GC may be drained but the transaction should reverse itself, and funds will become available again. Try again later.
UPdate Notice on Sept 15, 2014.
Some minor changes on the ATM limits and fees:
• Out-of-Network ATM Fees:
Beginning October 30, 2014, the fee for withdrawing funds using out-of-network ATMs will increase from $2.00 to $2.50. ATM operator fees may also apply.
• Free In-Network MoneyPass® ATMs:
Effective immediately, all Bluebird Customers can withdraw funds for free when using in-network MoneyPass ATMs. You can find one of the more than 24,000 MoneyPass ATMs below.
• ATM Withdrawal Limits Increase:
We have increased your daily ATM limit, so you can withdraw up to $750 per day. Your monthly ATM withdrawal limit will remain at $2,000.
-----
•If you use Wal-Mart Savings Catcher, you can earn double rewards by redeeming to your BlueBird account <== Doubling of savings catcher amounts ended sometime in the summer of 2015.
Bluebird prepaid debit, now with FDIC insurance and paper checks (2013-2014)
Nov 22, 2014, 11:11 am
#6901
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
I have used BB to pay both my District of Columbia income tax and property tax. Usually by check (with the payment coupon) but also by BB sending payments by their payment system (check or electronically). Only once did I have a problem and that was when I mailed a printed BB check to the DC Treasurer for my September 15, 2013 estimated income tax payment. DC never received that check, so the pre-authorized check was credited back to my BB account automatically after 6 months and I made up the difference when I paid the balance due on my tax return.
Nov 22, 2014, 11:38 am
#6902
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
BB --> bank transfers don't always go smoothly, but at the same time BB is a pain to use when one writes a check for amounts north of $2,000.00. I will not make payments via BB when *they* write the check, i.e., when the recipient of the funds is not in the BB database of ACH transferees.
Nov 22, 2014, 8:35 pm
#6903
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: ATL
Programs: AA, AGR, DL, MR, WoH, UA
Posts: 951
Once people realise that money is fungible, they simply do whatever works best for them.
Nov 23, 2014, 5:55 pm
#6904
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: AZ
Programs: HH Diamond
Posts: 200
1. Proves to DH that BB is a valuable miles earning tool (rather than a "scheme")
2. Shows AMEX that I'm using BB as they intended and not just as a miles earning "scheme" (I know this is probably a silly notion with no facts to back it up.)
3. Saves the 2 - 3 biz days it would take to withdraw funds to bank.
Net: it would work fine your way too, I just prefer it this way.
Nov 23, 2014, 7:32 pm
#6905
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
I have a number of property tax bills. I have used bill pay for them, starting about a month ago. I wanted to give myself plenty of time to sort out any problems. Then, I'm calling to verify payment, again, in plenty of time to reissue a check.
I chose bill pay because I recently had some sort of approval issue on a check I wrote for a small amount to an individual. Basically, it bounced. I'm still not exactly sure what went wrong on the BB end (authorization code was correct... yet the returned check said check not authorized).
I chose bill pay because I recently had some sort of approval issue on a check I wrote for a small amount to an individual. Basically, it bounced. I'm still not exactly sure what went wrong on the BB end (authorization code was correct... yet the returned check said check not authorized).
Nov 23, 2014, 7:36 pm
#6906
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
BB --> bank transfers don't always go smoothly, but at the same time BB is a pain to use when one writes a check for amounts north of $2,000.00. I will not make payments via BB when *they* write the check, i.e., when the recipient of the funds is not in the BB database of ACH transferees.
Nov 23, 2014, 8:32 pm
#6907
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Left Coast
Posts: 862
Why? Did you have a problem? I ask, because I'm taking the opposite course. I'm thinking it's BETTER to have BB issue the check. Here's why: Larger amounts go through more easily. No wondering if the recipient pre-authorized it properly. No worries about sloppy handwriting or distracted notations on the pre-authorization code. Plus I save the postage.
BB is not a bank, so you don't have the usual tools at your disposal if something goes wrong with a payment. As DCBob wrote in a post a few up from this one, "[...] I mailed a printed BB check to the DC Treasurer for my September 15, 2013 estimated income tax payment. DC never received that check, so the pre-authorized check was credited back to my BB account automatically after 6 months and I made up the difference when I paid the balance due on my tax return." I don't know about you, but I really don't care to float AmEx $2,000 to $3,000 for six months if a BB-sent check goes missing.
However, if you pay using a bank, you have the usual tools at your disposal when something goes wrong. For starters, the laws governing banking transactions.
Nov 23, 2014, 8:54 pm
#6908
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 3,509
You can read anecdotes in various threads regarding BB about BB-sent checks never reaching the intended recipient. The checks are sent in a nondescript envelope, and apparently can easily be mistaken as junk mail if they are not opened. Even if they are opened, it may not be clear to the recipient who sent the check, or what it is for.
BB is not a bank, so you don't have the usual tools at your disposal if something goes wrong with a payment. As DCBob wrote in a post a few up from this one, "[...] I mailed a printed BB check to the DC Treasurer for my September 15, 2013 estimated income tax payment. DC never received that check, so the pre-authorized check was credited back to my BB account automatically after 6 months and I made up the difference when I paid the balance due on my tax return." I don't know about you, but I really don't care to float AmEx $2,000 to $3,000 for six months if a BB-sent check goes missing.
However, if you pay using a bank, you have the usual tools at your disposal when something goes wrong. For starters, the laws governing banking transactions.
BB is not a bank, so you don't have the usual tools at your disposal if something goes wrong with a payment. As DCBob wrote in a post a few up from this one, "[...] I mailed a printed BB check to the DC Treasurer for my September 15, 2013 estimated income tax payment. DC never received that check, so the pre-authorized check was credited back to my BB account automatically after 6 months and I made up the difference when I paid the balance due on my tax return." I don't know about you, but I really don't care to float AmEx $2,000 to $3,000 for six months if a BB-sent check goes missing.
However, if you pay using a bank, you have the usual tools at your disposal when something goes wrong. For starters, the laws governing banking transactions.
Nov 24, 2014, 7:44 am
#6909
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Gold, IHG Plat, Marriott Titanium Elite
Posts: 5,015
Originally Posted by zippy the pinhead :
As DCBob wrote in a post a few up from this one, "[...] I mailed a printed BB check to the DC Treasurer for my September 15, 2013 estimated income tax payment. DC never received that check, so the pre-authorized check was credited back to my BB account automatically after 6 months and I made up the difference when I paid the balance due on my tax return." I don't know about you, but I really don't care to float AmEx $2,000 to $3,000 for six months if a BB-sent check goes missing.
No one wants to float any company $2,000 for 6 months, but I had no idea that the DC Treasurer would claim to have not received my check. And to correct the above quote, BB did NOT send the check. I did send my BB printed check (in my own envelope) as I stated in my post.
As bad as the USPS is, the DC government is far worse (from my own experience) and this event says a lot more about DC than it does about BB. Next time, I may drop that check off at a Wells Fargo Bank in DC as they accept tax payments and give you a receipt. Never had a problem with missing checks after dropping off tax payments at WF.
As DCBob wrote in a post a few up from this one, "[...] I mailed a printed BB check to the DC Treasurer for my September 15, 2013 estimated income tax payment. DC never received that check, so the pre-authorized check was credited back to my BB account automatically after 6 months and I made up the difference when I paid the balance due on my tax return." I don't know about you, but I really don't care to float AmEx $2,000 to $3,000 for six months if a BB-sent check goes missing.
No one wants to float any company $2,000 for 6 months, but I had no idea that the DC Treasurer would claim to have not received my check. And to correct the above quote, BB did NOT send the check. I did send my BB printed check (in my own envelope) as I stated in my post.
As bad as the USPS is, the DC government is far worse (from my own experience) and this event says a lot more about DC than it does about BB. Next time, I may drop that check off at a Wells Fargo Bank in DC as they accept tax payments and give you a receipt. Never had a problem with missing checks after dropping off tax payments at WF.
Last edited by DCBob; Nov 24, 2014 at 7:56 am
Nov 24, 2014, 7:52 am
#6910
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: CHS
Programs: United 1K, Globalist Hyatt, Plat Marriott
Posts: 289
How do we register our BB for the amx small business promo? I can't find it anywhere on my BB account.
Nov 24, 2014, 8:05 am
#6911
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: mountains of western NC
Programs: Life, Love and Laughter
Posts: 8,539
Nov 25, 2014, 8:58 am
#6912
Moderator: Travel Buzz
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Sunny San Diego
Posts: 3,099
Well, I just encountered a huge hitch in my BB bill pay.
I have made payments before to this lender, but now, for some reason, I get an error message that says "We're sorry, there appears to be a problem! Please try again later." So I tried and tried, then I re-entered the payee info, then I called (30 minutes or so...). After 3 way calling the lender, who had no clue what the problem would be, I transferred to a supervisor. The supervisor said that sometimes, use of the word "PO" in P O Box can cause problems, possibly because of punctuation (P.O.). HUH???? We tried that in a few different ways, but still a no go.
While I had him on the phone, I asked whether or not my property tax bills had cleared. They were all sent to via bill pay to a PO Box. (not a P.O. Box). He said he had no way to see if the checks were cashed, only that they were authorized. I have to call the payee to see if the checks arrived and were cashed.
Jimminy Christmas, what a hassle!
I have made payments before to this lender, but now, for some reason, I get an error message that says "We're sorry, there appears to be a problem! Please try again later." So I tried and tried, then I re-entered the payee info, then I called (30 minutes or so...). After 3 way calling the lender, who had no clue what the problem would be, I transferred to a supervisor. The supervisor said that sometimes, use of the word "PO" in P O Box can cause problems, possibly because of punctuation (P.O.). HUH???? We tried that in a few different ways, but still a no go.
While I had him on the phone, I asked whether or not my property tax bills had cleared. They were all sent to via bill pay to a PO Box. (not a P.O. Box). He said he had no way to see if the checks were cashed, only that they were authorized. I have to call the payee to see if the checks arrived and were cashed.
Jimminy Christmas, what a hassle!
Nov 25, 2014, 10:44 pm
#6913
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So Cal
Programs: UA Gold/0.744MM, WN AL, Hyatt Diamond, MR Scum, Hertz PC, National Exec, Avis PC
Posts: 5,561
Might want to check your email. I got a code for a free 1 day Redbox rental on my and my wife's BB. Only good thru 11/30. However, it says it's only good at Redbox at WM. I don't think want to be anywhere near WM for the next couple of days.
Nov 26, 2014, 9:03 am
#6914
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: some premium cabin...
Posts: 390
Got the same email on 2 BB. Will watch some free movie tonight.
Nov 27, 2014, 3:05 pm
#6915
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,688
got this free RB codes on each Serve account also. I gave them away since the selection at our WM RB are quite outdated; amazon prime has newer selections that I stream for free.